Why you should shave your armpits and the right way to do it

Please can we leave the bushes in the garden?

If shaved underarms on a man is a foreign concept to you, then you probably shouldn’t be confused about the slight flinch you observe people do when you enter an elevator. Chances are that on the body odour spectrum — which swings between a caveman and Adonis dressed in a blooming spring-time garden — you fall more on the caveman side. But no, it’s not just the excessive sweating or the food choices that are making you this way. There’s a hidden culprit that’s causing the dark (stale-smelling) cloud that’s following you around, and it’s been living right under your nose arms this whole time: excessive armpit hair.

Shaving your armpit hair is easier said than done, though. We get that being smooth as a baby’s behind under there can be scary at first. Add to that the fact that you probably have a ton of awkward questions about it and the worry that you might hurt yourself in the process, and the reluctance to go through with it is obvious. But here’s the thing: it’s completely okay to shave your underarms. It not only shows your partner (or any potential partners) that you care about your personal hygiene but also earns you some brownie points for making the effort to look (and smell) better.

Why you should shave your armpit hair

Your armpits are home to a number of apocrine glands, which are the sweat glands responsible for those disgusting wet patches on your t-shirts in the underarm area. By keeping all that untamed hair in the area, which ensures that sweat remains trapped in your armpits, you’re basically throwing a germ party in there.

Drying your armpits now and then and using deodorants can help. But shaving eliminates the possibility of germs cozying up in there. It also helps to deal with armpit odour. We’re not saying you need to shave your armpits every day like you would your face but every once in a while would be great.

The right way to shave your underarm hair

While it is conventionally alright for men to have some body hair, braiding your underarm hair isn’t really her take on an ideal date. Even if you leave the aesthetic of it aside, it can be argued that too much armpit hair is unhygienic and, on the whole, unattractive. But here’s how you can get rid of it for good.

1. Take a warm shower

Armpit hair is known to be stubborn. Soften it up by taking a quick warm shower, so that it’s easier for you to trim it down and then shave subsequently. This is particularly necessary to tame your armpit mane if you’re shaving it for the first time.

2. Time to trim

You wouldn’t take your razor down there without trimming the long hair down to an inch or so, would you? The same rule applies to your armpits. The long hair will otherwise clog your blades and make the whole process a lot tougher than it has to be.

3. Shave it

Once you have cleaned your razor and made sure it’s disinfected, apply some shaving foam or gel to your underarms. Use the razor to shave in the direction of or against the hair growth, depending on what suits you. Try not to shave an area more than once. You can flex your arm or pull your skin taut with the other hand to avoid any shaving hiccups.

4. Don’t forget the aftercare

Pick out an unscented aftershave balm and apply it gently to your armpits. You should avoid an alcohol-based shave balm for your underarms for the most comfortable results. If applying a deodorant is the next thing in your grooming routine, make sure you wait a few minutes before doing so.